Preview: Toulouse v Leicester

Toulouse host fellow former champions Leicester Tigers in the biggest clash of the opening weekend of the Heineken Cup.

Toulouse host fellow former champions Leicester Tigers in the biggest clash of the opening weekend of the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

There's no harder place to begin the Heineken Cup trail than in Toulouse this weekend, says Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill, who spent two years as a player in France.

"They're historically the best club in France, they're the most successful team in Europe, and there's not a harder place to go so, we've got to be right," said Cockerill, who has been with Tigers in each of the club's five visits to a European final.

"It's the unique nature of the Heineken Cup to go to places like Toulouse and have two good sides playing each other in the first round.

"The pool stages are not a procession -you have to perform really well from day one.

"This could be the kind of fixture to grace a quarter-final or semi-final."

Toulouse academy graduate Gael Fickou will make his European debut at inside centre for the four-time champions. Clement Poitrenaud returns to the full-back berth meaning Yoann Huget shifts to left wing.

Pumas lock Patricio Albacete returns from international duty in the Rugby Championship and comes in on the bench. Veteran French international centre Yannick Jauzion is on the bench but will undergo a fitness test on matchday.

For Leicester, Steve Mafi and Scott Hamilton are both included in the starting XV on their return from injury.

Flanker Mafi and full-back Hamilton both missed the Aviva Premiership wins over Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks, but have returned to fitness in time for the European opener in France this weekend.

Loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza is also included in the Tigers squad for the first time this season on his return from international duty with Argentina.